Times Square Subway Murder: Man Thrown in Front of Oncoming Train by Panhandler

A man was hurled to his death on subway tracks by a deranged person in New York City’s Times Square station.

According to onlookers, Ki Suk Han, 58, of Queens, was attempting to prevent the crazed individual from bothering other straphangers when he was pushed onto the tracks by the unidentified man moments before an oncoming train arrived in the station. Han was crushed between the train and the platform and dragged at least 15 feet.

The suspect, described by witnesses as a male black with short dreadlocks, between 20 and 40 years of age, fled the scene immediately after pushing Han onto the tracks.

Police are reviewing video tape from the scene and surrounding area in the hopes of identifying the killer.

The train “crushed him like a rag doll,” said R. Umar Abbasi, a New York Post freelance photographer who happened to be on the 49th Street station and captured a chilling photo of Han struggling unsuccessfully to climb from the tracks onto the platform.

The photographer was later criticized for appearing to have decided to take a dramatic picture of the tragedy rather than help save the man’s life. Abbasi defended his actions, claiming he attempted to help the victim by running toward the oncoming train while flashing his camera to alert the conductor of the man’s presence on the tracks.

The train’s operator saw Han on the tracks, but was unable to stop the train in time.

As the incident unfolded, other straphangers moved toward the end of the platform to avoid the suspected emotionally disturbed man. Han, however, remained engaged with his killer, asking him to calm down for the sake of other subway riders. The crazed individual began cursing and yelling according to witnesses, repeatedly screaming at Han, “You don’t know me! You don’t know who I am!”

According to Abbasi, the attacker rushed by him exiting the station and muttered “Goddamn motherf--ker.”

Han was immediately transported to Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Han's wife told reporters than she and her husband had a fight in the morning before Han's death. She said he was likely intoxicated, and police reportedly found a bottle of liquor in Han's pocket.